Won't Somebody Think of the U.S. Attorneys?

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein's bill devolving some of the PATRIOT Act's U.S. Attorney powers away from the White House has passed the Senate. The crucial bit:

Struck Out>: Section 546 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 546. Vacancies

'The United States district court for a district in which the office of the United States attorney is vacant may appoint a United States attorney to serve until that vacancy is filled. The order of appointment by the court shall be filed with the clerk of the court.'. < Struck Out

Section 546 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

'(c) A person appointed as United States attorney under this section may serve until the earlier of--

'(1) the qualification of a United States attorney for such district appointed by the President under section 541 of this title; or '(2) the expiration of 120 days after appointment by the Attorney General under this section.

(d) If an appointment expires under subsection (c)(2), the district court for such district may appoint a United States attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled. The order of appointment by the court shall be filed with the clerk of the court.'.